just before taken from the side of her mother's coffin into our house. On one side it was open to the forest, and I know not that one of the awakened people lived within a mile of us. We were as on a desert alone; but the Lord was with us, and preserved us beneath his love's almighty shade. The enemy came, however, to the length of his chain. Sometimes on Sundays, when the nights were dark, after the society meeting, a mob used to collect at the gate, and throw dirt at the people as they went out; and when they were gone, they used to come into the yard, break some trifles they found there, and putting up their faces to a window which had no shutters, roar and howl like wild beasts.

And now another dispensation was opening before us. From the time I was seventeen, some drawing toward the care of children had dwelt on my mind. I felt the same desire now as at that time to become in every sense a servant to the Church. Those words were still with me: "If she have lodged strangers; if she have brought up children; if she have relieved the afflicted; and diligently followed after every good work." Yet I was truly sensible no work was good but as being done in the will and order of God. We therefore entreated the Lord to discover to us all his sacred will from day to day, and not suffer us in any degree to err therefrom.

Various leadings of Providence, both inward and outward, drew us to think of the rising generation with more than common tenderness. Our abilities were small; yet perhaps a few children we could educate, without interrupting the order of God in our call toward the grown people. We determined, however, to take none but destitute orphans, that no one might interrupt our plan of education. We were not unconscious that to change the heart belongs to God, but at the same time we remembered there was a blessing promised to "the training up a child in the way it should go," and that a degree of knowledge, with a capacity of getting their bread in an honest way, has, under God, rescued many from destruction. Some such objects now presented themselves, and we received them, one after another, in the name of the Lord. We however, refused many, taking

only those concerning whom there appeared a particular call of Providence.

For a good while, our family consisted of one servant, six orphans, and ourselves; but we found it took up too much of our time to have the whole care of them alone; especially as my friend Ryan was often confined by illness. We therefore took a pious young woman, named Ann Tripp, who desired to devote herself to God, in a closer walk than the generality of believers. She was placed as governess over the children, whose number continued to increase. Some serious women were also added to our household, and each had their duties and employments assigned them. In the whole we received thirtyfive children, and thirty-four grown persons, but not all at one time.

We

We now found work enough on our hands, and wished to free ourselves from all needless cares. As well, therefore, to answer that end, as to avoid conformity to the world, we thought it best to have but one dress. fixed on a dark purple cotton, of which we had many pieces stamped; and ourselves with the whole family wore nothing else. We had a large hall, and in it a table five yards long, at which we ate together. There also we assembled for morning and evening devotion, and on several other occasions. But, in general, the children were in the nursery, and the other sisters in their own apartments.

When my family began thus to increase, I must acknowledge it was by no means proportionate to my income, but it appeared to me I had a peculiar call from the Lord to take the steps I did; and we began with a degree of the same spirit which is expressed in a book entitled, "The Footsteps of Divine Providence;" giving an account of the orphan house at Halle, in Germany, raised by Professor Francke.

This plan I would advise none to follow, unless they felt what I did; for certainly justice goes before charity; and there is very seldom a real call from God to give more than we have. But it must be observed, though my income was inadequate to the undertaking, I had a considerable capital. So that I was not at present in danger of debt. The risk I ran was, of spending my capital, and

being left without a maintenance. But the Lord seemed to assure me I should not thus be deserted, and that by many and various ways.

We now set ourselves to inquire of the Lord, how we should train up these children to his glory: and a few out of many reflections which occurred to my mind, I will endeavour to set down. But I must observe, first, as most of our children were naked, full of vermin, and some afflicted with distempers, the first thing was to clean and clothe them, and attend to their health; which usually was followed with much success. At the same time, we endeavoured to bring them to an outward conformity of manners to the rules of the house, and to some courtesy of behaviour. This was not difficult, as a child naturally falls in with what it sees in others. The second attempt was, to fix on their minds that we had no motives in receiving them into our house, but that of love; love to their souls and bodies. We wished to save their bodies from misery, and their souls from eternal destruction.

With respect to the strangers, we endeavoured to lead them to a view of the love of God, observing it was his love which caused ours. He put it into our heart, he brought them in our way, and from his hand came their every blessing. That the end of the Lord in bringing them into our house, was to learn that great truth, that they should never die. Their bodies must die, and rest in the grave; but they themselves would be for ever alive, and hear, see, think, and know; feel pleasure, or pain, and that for ever. We inculcated that the end of their learning this lesson was to make them happy, and prevent their being miserable, since in a very short space of time they must enter into the one or the other state, and that to all eternity.

We continually impressed on the minds of the children, that the only way to be happy was to be like God; to love what he loved, and to hate what he hated; but that was not their present state. They were now like the devil, and loved what he loved. If they were injured, they loved to revenge, and could hardly forget the offence any one offered them. When angry, they would cry and sob, and be almost choked; but when did they find themselves so affected in thinking about the Lord Jesus? Did his love

and sufferings come again and again to their mind, so that they could not forget them? And when did they cry and sob, because they Lad sinned against so good a God? It was plain, therefore, they were as yet the devil's children, and their minds and affections obeyed him only. We therefore declared, that whenever we saw these marks of the devil's power on their hearts, we would tell them of it; but if they would still obey him rather than God, we would then add unto our words correction; making them feel pain, that the impression might be strong, and more lasting; and that they must never resent nor resist those corrections, for it was more painful for us to give, than it could be for them to receive them. But seeing it was for their profit, and our duty to do it, they must take each correction not only with patience, but thankfulness; for we should make it a point of conscience, never to correct, or even to contradict them, but with consideration and prayer, having always that lesson before our eyes,

That mercy I to others show,

That mercy show to me."

Nor were these observations altogether without fruit; for I do not remember one child I ever had, that if we ordered her to receive correction by the rod, (which was not often,) would not lie down in silence as a lamb, and afterward, yea, immediately after, come and kiss us. We observed, that all our instructions would avail them nothing, unless their hearts were changed; and that none but Jesus Christ could do that; but he was ready and willing, and assuredly would do it, if they cried to him for it.

From the above hints, various occasions presented to point out the nature of salvation through Christ alone, and the necessity of a renewed nature, in order to be capable of the enjoyment of heaven.

One day a little beggar girl, whom we had taken in about a week before, showed some of the vicious dispositions which had been nursed up in her by evil company. On repetition, she received correction. When the chil. dren were alone, (as they thought,) she began to complain of her hard fate, saying, "If they love us, why do they whip us?" A little one about six years old replied, “Why, it is because they love us, and it is to make us remember

what a sad thing sin is; and God would be angry with them if they did not do so. Do you not remember the chapter my mistress read about Eli ?" Indeed I had va. rious proofs that it is not so hard a thing to convince the judgment of children as some may think; and a right judgment is a good step toward right affections.

later.

As we intended them to work for their bread, either as servants or in little trades, we endeavoured as early as possible to inure them to labour, early rising, and cleanliness. The eldest of the children arose between four and five, the younger not much At half an hour after six we had family prayer. At seven, we breakfasted to. gether on herb tea, or milk porridge. The small children then went into the garden till eight. At eight the bell rang for school, which continued till twelve. Then, after a few minutes spent in prayer, they came down to us; at which time we either walked out with them, or, if the weather did not permit, we found them some employment in the house, endeavouring at the same time to give them both instruction and recreation. We invented various employments for those hours, in order to remove the ap. pearance of idleness, as from the first we endeavoured to impress that lesson on their minds: "An idle person is the devil's cushion, on which he rolls at pleasure.' Likewise, that in the choice of their employments, they should always prefer those that were most useful, and be always able to render a reason for every thing they did. At one we dined; about two the bell rang again for school, and at five they returned to us, and were employed as before till supper time. Then, after family prayer, they were washed, and put to bed by eight. Four or five of the bigger girls were each week kept out of the school by turns, and employed in housework, cooking, &c, that they might be accustomed to every sort of business; and there was work enough in so large a family. Several of the children were very young, though I do not remember we had any under two years, except one of about a month old, which was laid, very neatly dressed, one night late at our door; but it lived only a fortnight, being full of humours, too probably derived from its parents.

We now found a great need of wisdom and patience. We had, I think, never more than ten grown persons in